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We have a 2009 Toyota Rav 4 automatic with which we tow a braked caravan with a fully laden 900kg weight . The Rav is ok apart from trying to open the back door with the van on the back. We are wanting to know if a ute would be better and also 2wd or 4wd, petrol or diesel, manual or automatic? Any advice would be appreciated.

A ute will be fine for towing but you should also consider a SUV with a tailgate rather than the door. A diesel will make light work of towing a 900kg braked trailer thanks to the torque it supplies and an automatic transmission, not the CVT type, will work well for towing. Deciding on an auto or manual transmission option will come down to personal preference - a manual 'box will require more work from the driver, especially on uphills whereas the auto ‘box does all the work for you. The Mazda CX-5 2.2L diesel would be a good option as it has 420Nm of torque available. A 2wd vehicle is ok for towing but an AWD vehicle will be beneficial on surfaces with less traction - campsites or gravel roads.